"But the attack upon me?"
"You asked for all you got," Lutchester told him curtly, "and perhaps a little more."
The first tinge of colour came back to Graham's cheeks. His eyes flashed with anger.
"Perhaps I did," he admitted, "but that doesn't alter the fact that I'm going to have some of my own back out of them."
Lutchester crossed his legs and turned round in his chair. For the first time he directly faced his visitor. His tone, though not unkindly, was imperative.
"Young fellow," he said, "you'll have to listen to me about this."
A smouldering sense of revolt suddenly found words.
"Listen to you? What the devil have you got to do with it?" Graham demanded.
"I hate to remind any one of an obligation," Lutchester answered, "but
I am under the impression that, together with Miss Van Teyl, of course,
I rescued you from an exceedingly inconvenient situation."
"I haven't had time yet to tell you how grateful I am," Graham said awkwardly. "You were a brick, of course, and how you and Miss Van Teyl tumbled on to the whole thing I can't imagine. But I don't understand what you're getting at now. You can't suggest that I am to leave these fellows alone and not give information to the police?"